Ascites is the buildup of fluid in the abdomen. The peritoneum is a membrane that surrounds the organs inside the abdomen that makes ascitic fluid. This fluid is normal in the body, but cancer can cause the peritoneum to produce too much of this fluid.
The medical name for a build up of fluid in the abdomen is ascites (pronounced ay-site-eez). It can also be called malignant ascites. The tummy (abdomen) contains many organs, including the stomach, bowels, pancreas, liver, spleen and kidneys. There is a sheet of tissue (peritoneum) around these organs.
Ascites is the excessive accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. For ascites fluid to be detectable by clinical examination there has to be at least 1500 ml present (slightly less in a small, thin person, but significantly more in an obese person). Ultrasound can detect much smaller volumes (≤500 ml).
Free intraperitoneal fluid may be termed free fluid or (less correctly) free intra-abdominal fluid. It may be seen in small volumes in female patients, particularly around the time of menses and in some healthy young men. When free fluid is present in large amounts it is usually called ascites.
Ascites is a buildup of fluid in your abdomen. It often occurs as a result of cirrhosis, a liver disease. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have cirrhosis and notice you're gaining weight very quickly. Your provider will talk to you about treatments, which often include a low-salt diet.
Your doctor can put a small tube into the abdomen to drain off the fluid. This reduces the swelling and makes you feel more comfortable. It's called abdominal paracentesis (pronounced para-sen-tee-sis) or an ascitic tap (pronounced ass-it-ic tap).
Ascites may go away with a low salt diet, and with diuretics (water pills) ordered by your provider. But sometimes a provider must drain the fluid from the belly using a special needle. View our Ascites Patient Fact Sheet for more information.
Both ascites and beer belly result in a large, protruding hard belly that can resemble that of a pregnant woman's belly.
Ascites is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. It can happen when the liver is not working properly. Fluid fills the space between the organs and abdominal lining, leading to swelling and pain. Ascites is a common symptom of cirrhosis, which is scarring on the liver.
Ascites is traditionally divided into transudate or exudate based on the protein content. Transudates (protein < 25 g/L) are typically due to increased leakage of fluid secondary to raised intravascular pressure.
Ascites is the pathologic accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity. It is the most common complication of cirrhosis and occurs in about 50% of patient with decompensated cirrhosis in 10 years. The development of ascites denotes the transition from compensated to decompensated cirrhosis.
Ascites results from high pressure in certain veins of the liver (portal hypertension) and low blood levels of a protein called albumin. Diseases that can cause severe liver damage can lead to ascites.
Limiting your liquids.
This is also important. You may need to drink less than one liter of fluids per day to help prevent ascites from recurring, and you may have to take water pills.
Ascites causes abdominal pain, swelling, nausea, vomiting, and other difficulties. Stopping all alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, not smoking, and limiting salt intake can help prevent cirrhosis or cancer that may lead to ascites.
Ascites is the main complication of cirrhosis,3 and the mean time period to its development is approximately 10 years. Ascites is a landmark in the progression into the decompensated phase of cirrhosis and is associated with a poor prognosis and quality of life; mortality is estimated to be 50% in 2 years.
The peritoneum is a membrane that surrounds the organs inside the abdomen that makes ascitic fluid. This fluid is normal in the body, but cancer can cause the peritoneum to produce too much of this fluid. This is called "malignant ascites" and it is often a sign of advanced cancer.
The probability of survival at one and five years after the diagnosis of ascites is approximately 50 and 20%, respectively, and long-term survival of more than 10 years is very rare [8]. In addition, mortality rises up to 80% within 6–12 months in patients who also develop kidney failure [1].
What does ascites look like? The presentation of ascites can vary depending on its severity. Those with mild ascites may have an abdomen that appears normal, whereas those with more severe ascites may have a very large distended abdomen. As the fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity.
The classification of ascites is based on the amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity: grade 1 ascites, or mild ascites, detectable by ultrasound examination; grade 2 ascites, or moderate ascites, characterized by a mild symmetrical abdominal distension; and grade 3 ascites, or large ascites, with significant abdominal ...
Risk Factors. In general, the development of ascites indicates evidence of advanced liver disease. However, blood clots in the vessels in and around the liver, as well certain types of tumors in the abdomen can also cause ascites.
The doctor will give you a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. They may perform a variety of tests, including blood work, an ultrasound, or a CT scan. If they think you have ascites, the doctor will use a needle to remove fluid from your belly for testing.
Uncomplicated cirrhotic ascites is usually translucent and yellow. If the patient is deeply jaundiced, the fluid might appear brown. Turbidity or cloudiness of the ascites fluid suggests that infection is present and further diagnostic testing should be performed.
It usually takes between 5 and 15 minutes. When the fluid stops draining you remove the bottle and put a cap over the end of the tube.
Ascites can also slow the movement of food leaving the stomach. This can lead to nausea and vomiting. The stomach empties to the right, and many patients have less nausea when laying on their right side.